Pasta Carbonara (Amalfi Coast Recipe) - Tastefully Grace (2024)

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5 from 120 votes

At a quaint, off the beaten path café in Amalfi, Italy, I had the best pasta carbonara I’ve ever had (and one of the single best pasta dishes ever consumed). The family that owned this café was so happy that we loved their carbonara, that they invited me into their kitchen to watch the magic happen. It was one of the best moments of my life!

Pasta Carbonara (Amalfi Coast Recipe) - Tastefully Grace (1)

This simple pasta carbonara recipe is a perfect flavor blend of creamy richness and a porky kick. This timeless Italian classic is kicked up a notch with this Amalfi version, adding shallots and whole milk to the dish for extra flavor and creaminess. Your taste buds will thank you!

Want another classic Italian pasta dish recipe? Try Pasta al Limone!

What is Pasta Carbonara?

Carbonara is a traditional Roman pasta dish that combines few, but high-quality ingredients. This dish showcases the harmonious blend of pasta, eggs, parmigiano-reggiano cheese, guanciale (cured pork jowl) or pancetta, and black pepper. The result is a creamy, rich sauce that clings to the pasta, creating an indulgent flavor experience.

This “Amalfi style” includes the five standard ingredients in Roman carbonara (spaghetti, pancetta/guanciale, eggs, parmesan cheese, and black pepper), but it also includes whole milk and shallots.

Still – this recipe doesn’t include cream or peas that you’d typically see in carbonara throughout the US. This Amalfi carbonara is delicate like the Roman version, but it has just a bit more creaminess with a touch of sharpness from the shallots. I was so lucky to be able to watch and cook carbonara with a local pro. Here’s how she made carbonara as I remember it. She didn’t measure out ingredients, so I’ve experimented with the recipe to recreate it just how I remember it tasting!

Tips for Marking Pasta Carbonara

  • Choose Quality Ingredients: Opt for high-quality eggs, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and pancetta to ensure an authentic and flavorful Carbonara base.
  • Respect Tradition: Stick to the traditional ingredients and preparation methods for an authentic taste that pays homage to its Italian roots.
  • Mind the Heat: While cooking the sauce, use low heat to avoid scrambling the eggs, achieving a silky and creamy texture. I use pasteurized eggs (previously heat-treated) since I don’t like to take any risks when working with raw ingredients.
  • Pasta Water is Your Friend: Save a cup of pasta cooking water before draining. The starchy water can be added to the sauce for a smoother consistency.
  • Serve and Eat Immediately: Carbonara is best eaten right after preparation to enjoy its creamy goodness at its peak.

Pasta Carbonara Ingredients

  • High-quality spaghetti: Nothing beats a perfect al dente pasta. Spaghetti or bucatini is the go-to noodle for this dish.
  • Pancetta or guanciale: Pancetta is milder, while guanciale is more intense and fatty. I like pancetta!
  • Parmigiano Reggiano: Parmigiano is used in the sauce to add creaminess and flavor, and as a finishing touch.
  • Whole milk: Whole milk adds a creamy richness to balance the sauce’s flavors and texture.
  • Shallots: Shallots add an onion-like kick providing subtle depth to the dish.
  • Eggs (I use pasteurized): Eggs also contribute to the creaminess and richness to the sauce.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil: EVOO helps saute shallots.
  • Black pepper to taste: Freshly cracked black pepper adds a warm, peppery kick.

How to Make Pasta Carbonara

Full instructions in the recipe card; this is just an outline!

  1. Combine.

    Whisk together whole milk, egg, cheese, and black pepper to create your sauce base. Set aside.

  2. Boil.

    Cook spaghetti to perfect al dente, according to cooking instructions on the box.

  3. Cook.

    In a separate pot or pan, cook pancetta until just crispy, about 5-8 minutes over medium heat. Drain extra fat (the liquid in the pan!).

  4. Saute.

    Throw in your shallots to the pancetta pan (and a dash of olive oil if needed) and sweat them for about 2 minutes.

  5. Add.

    Drain your pasta and add to the pancetta/shallot pot. Use tongs to combine.

  6. Combine.

    Turn stove off, and add egg mixture, stirring into hot pasta, pancetta and shallots. Stir constantly until all ingredients are steaming hot.

  7. Serve.

    Serve immediately! And of course, with more grated cheese and black pepper!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use bacon instead of guanciale or pancetta?

Guanciale or pancetta are traditional, but bacon can be used as an alternative and still give you the essence of Carbonara.

What if my sauce is too thick?

Incorporate a little more reserved pasta water and gently toss until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.

What if my sauce is too runny?

Add a bit more cheese to help bind the sauce.

Can I add salt?

You can certainly add salt, but the cheese and pancetta/guanciale are plenty salty. Only add a little at a time if you choose to do so.

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Spaghetti is traditional, but you can use any type of pasta shape you like. I prefer to stick to ones that can hold the creamy sauce, like fettuccine, bucatini or rigatoni.

How can I prevent the eggs from scrambling?

Make sure to remove the pan from direct heat before adding the egg and cheese mixture and toss quickly to coat the pasta evenly.

Can I make pasta carbonara in advance?

Carbonara is best enjoyed fresh, as reheating can cause the eggs to overcook and the sauce to become less creamy.

Can I reheat leftover carbonara?

Reheating carbonara is not recommended as it can result in a loss of creaminess.

How can I ensure the pasta is al dente?

Taste the pasta a minute or two before the suggested cooking time ends. It should have a slight firmness when bitten, as it will continue cooking briefly when combined with the sauce.

Other Pasta Recipes You’ll Love

  • Chicken Pesto Pasta
  • Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
  • Pasta Primavera
  • Pasta alla Genovese
  • Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone)
  • Pasta With Bacon and Peas
  • Cacio e Pepe Recipe

Pasta Carbonara (Amalfi Coast Recipe) - Tastefully Grace (2)

Pasta Carbonara (Amalfi Coast Recipe)

At a quaint, off the beaten path café in Amalfi, Italy, I had the best pasta carbonara I’ve ever had (and one of the single best pasta dishes ever consumed). The family that owned this café was so happy that we loved their carbonara, that they invited me into their kitchen to watch the magic happen. It was one of the best moments of my life!

5 from 120 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: any season, winter

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 845kcal

Author: TastefullyGrace

Ingredients

  • 1 pound good-quality spaghetti
  • 8 ounces pancetta or guanciale, which is fattier and gamier
  • 1 ½ cup parmigiano reggiano plus more to garnish
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • 2 shallots chopped
  • 3 large eggs you can substitute pasteurized eggs if you prefer!
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste

Instructions

  • In a bowl, whisk together milk, egg, cheese, and black pepper. Set aside.

  • Begin boiling spaghetti to al dente, according to cooking instructions on box.

  • In a separate large pot, sauté pancetta in a dry pan until it just starts to get crispy, about 5-8 minutes over medium heat. Drain extra fat (the liquid in the pan!). Add shallots (and a dash of olive oil if needed) and sweat them for about 2 minutes. Then turn heat to low to keep ingredients warm.

  • Drain pasta and add to pancetta/shallot pot. Use tongs to combine. Turn stove off, and add egg mixture, stirring into hot pasta, pancetta and shallots. Stir constantly until all ingredients are steaming hot.

  • Serve immediately with more grated cheese and black pepper! OH MY!!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 845kcal | Carbohydrates: 90g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 827mg | Potassium: 509mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 386IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 378mg | Iron: 2mg

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Pasta Carbonara (Amalfi Coast Recipe) - Tastefully Grace (2024)

FAQs

Which ingredient should never be used in traditional carbonara? ›

What not to put in Spaghetti Carbonara? Don't put garlic, cream, milk or butter. It is not needed. It is fine if you want to make a dish with those ingredients, but if you want to learn how to make this dish correctly, use only pecorino, eggs/egg yolks, black pepper, guanciale, and pasta water.

What kind of pasta is in the Amalfi famous? ›

Spaghetti alla Nerano soon became an Amalfi Coast speciality, celebrating delicious fresh produce and Mediterranean cuisine. Today, it is a real tourist attraction of the area and it is just so simple yet mouthwateringly good.

Do Italians put cream in carbonara? ›

Should carbonara have cream? Typically carbonara sauce is only made of eggs, bacon, parmesan, olive oil, seasoning, and sometimes, vegetables. As for cream, Italians will tell you that is a big no no.

What is the trick about carbonara sauce? ›

Whisk Like You Mean It

You're using more egg yolks than whites here, which is what makes carbonara so rich and luxurious. But there's still two eggs-worth of whites in there. Whisking your eggs so that the whites are completely incorporated into the yolks will give your sauce a more uniform texture.

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? ›

The golden rule to silky carbonara is to whisk your egg whites so that they're completely incorporated with the egg yolks.

What are the biggest carbonara mistakes? ›

1. Adding your eggs while the pasta is still on the heat. This is one of the most common mistakes when making carbonara. It is very easy to end up with pasta a la scrambled eggs instead.

What dish is the Amalfi Coast known for? ›

A celebrated seafood dish along the Amalfi Coast, moscardini con le patate consists of baby octopus simmered in red wine vinegar and potatos boiled in saltwater. Both ingredients are combined with olive oil, white wine and herbs, plus seasonings such as garlic, salt, and pepper.

What is Italy's number 1 pasta? ›

The most popular dried pasta in Italy is Barilla, which has recently become more widely available in the United States. Like all Italian dried pasta, it is made under rigid Government controls from hard durum-wheat flour, called semola di grano duro in Italian and semolina in English.

Where do celebrities eat in Amalfi Coast? ›

Where do celebrities eat on the Amalfi Coast? The place on the Amalfi Coast where it's easiest to encounter "famous faces" is the village of Nerano. Here, the jet-set crowd disembarks from their yachts to dine in cliffside restaurants such as Lo Scoglio and La Conca del Sogno.

What's the difference between carbonara and Italian carbonara? ›

The Italian version doesn't use cream or ham. It is made with pancetta (pork belly meat that is salt cured, also referred to as Italian bacon), Parmigiano Reggiano or pecorino romano cheese, eggs, and black pepper—called the basics. The pork is fried in fat, usually olive oil.

What kind of cheese is good in carbonara? ›

Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano – I like to use a combination of Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano. While these two cheeses ARE similar, I strongly recommend you use BOTH (and not sub one for the other), as it adds a layer of complexity to the flavors.

How do you keep carbonara creamy? ›

“It's the main ingredient, so egg yolk is one of the most important aspects of carbonara. The quantity is crucial: the right amount is two egg yolks for each person. As with all pasta, you have to keep the pasta water – the starchy water is how you get a perfectly creamy sauce.

How does Gordon Ramsay make carbonara sauce? ›

Gordon's Carbonara in Under 10 Minutes
  1. 125g Dried Spaghetti.
  2. 30g Frozen Peas.
  3. 80g Streaky Bacon or Pancetta, Cut into small lardons.
  4. 2 Egg Yolks.
  5. 1 1/2 Tablespoons Crème Fraîche.
  6. 2 Mushrooms, Sliced.
  7. 1 Chili, Minced.
  8. Olive Oil.
May 3, 2020

Is it better to make carbonara with egg yolks or whole eggs? ›

Why It Works. A sauce of mostly yolks has a richer, silkier, tighter texture than one made with only whole eggs.

Do you put raw egg in carbonara? ›

The sauce is made with raw egg yolks and is cooked by using only the heat from the cooked pasta. Some people have concerns about the safety of this dish due to the possibility of egg yolks be contaminated with salmonella. In fact, the hot cooked pasta does fully cook the egg. I hope that this answers your question.

What does a traditional carbonara contain? ›

Carbonara (Italian: [karboˈnaːra]) is a pasta dish made with fatty cured pork, eggs, hard cheese, salt, and black pepper. It is typical of the Lazio region of Italy. The dish took its modern form and name in the middle of the 20th century. The cheese is usually pecorino romano.

Does traditional carbonara have garlic? ›

Must-have ingredients

that there are only five ingredients: pasta, pork cheek, eggs, cheese and pepper. That's it. A real carbonara does not contain onion, garlic, or cream.

Is carbonara made with pancetta or guanciale? ›

It's made with spaghetti, eggs, cheese, and cured pork. But let me tell you, the key to a true carbonara is the use of guanciale, not pancetta. You see, guanciale is made from the jowl of the pig, which is a less lean cut of meat compared to the belly.

How do you avoid salmonella in carbonara? ›

The use of thermal processing is the most effective method for Salmonella inactivation in preparations containing eggs. Consequently, according to regulatory agencies, it is generally mandatory that these preparations must be completely cooked to a temperature of at least 70 °C.

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